Indianapolis Business Journal - February 23 - March 1, 2018

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In This Issue

Front Page

State, national races see huge increase in female candidates

Nearly 90 women who have filed to run for state or federal offices in Indiana this year. That’s a 35 percent increase from the 2016 primary season and an 85 percent jump from a decade ago.

Hospital construction boom fans overbuilding fears

Even before news broke that an unidentified health care system had lined up 30 acres at 96th Street and Spring Mill Road for a massive development, projects costing billions of dollars were underway or on the drawing board across the region.

Top Stories

New IU venture fund could be ‘game changer,’ draw top faculty, students

The IU Philanthropic Venture Fund—which will back IU-related research and startups—is already fully funded to the tune of $15 million.

The site where Robert F. Kennedy announced the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. could soon receive a makeover, new programming and a federal historic designation.

$24.5M Children's Museum sports park readies for tip-off

Called the Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience, the 7.5-acre expansion boasts 12 outdoor and three indoor exhibits that include activities from a variety of sports, giving families more reason to visit during the warmer months.

Is fast-growing rival of Lids frontrunner to buy chain?

Some analysts say the logical buyer for Zionsville-based Lids Sports Group is Fanatics Inc., an online-only rival that has been on a tear while Lids has struggled.

Q&A: Bobby Mattingly and Cody Peczkowski of Moontown Brewing

After years of dreaming and planning, the pair opened the brewery in January in the historic Whitestown High School gym.

ISO hires former Omaha Symphony, New York Pops leader as CEO

James Johnson will take over the largest arts-related employer in Indiana, where he'll oversee 55 administrative staff members, 74 full-time musicians and a $26 million operating budget.

UPDATED: Vop Osili elected council president after Clay resigns

Osili said his first task as president is to rebuild trust. He said the leadership controversy had “shaken the confidence of our constituents.”

Simon to spiff up struggling Circle Centre with long-awaited renovation

Plans for the "multimillion-dollar" renovation include transforming the food court into a dining pavilion and upgrading lighting and finishes. But the plans don't address the long-term viability of the struggling mall.

Focus

Small, midsize Hoosier companies increasingly jumping into exporting

In central Indiana, 90 percent of companies sell to domestic customers alone, meaning they are missing out on 80 percent of the world’s buying power.

GE engine factory in Lafayette feeding roaring global demand

The Lafayette facility—along with factories in Durham, North Carolina, and France—produces the LEAP, a brand-new engine that GE says has the distinction of being the fastest-selling jet engine in commercial aviation history.

Robust international sales give Cummins big boost

The company said demand for medium- and heavy-duty trucks in China increased 40 percent in 2017, in part because government enforcement of vehicle-overloading regulations accelerated truck replacements.

Indiana’s ports in 2017 saw near-record shipments

The Ports of Indiana says it handled 11.8 million tons of cargo in 2017, the second-highest annual shipment total in its 57-year history.

A&E, etc.

A quarter-century of laughs didn’t always come easy for ComedySportz

The improvisation-based company—now known as CSz Indianapolis—just celebrated its 25th year of making-it-up-as-it-goes-along fun. Along the way, it has weathered location shifts, the recession, the post-9/11 comedy crisis and, recently, an ownership change to become the longest-running theater production in the city.

LOPRESTI: Sticking with basketball after most others have moved on

IUPUI senior Ron Patterson, 25, seems like a relic to his teammates, but he still has hoop dreams.

Opinion

EDITORIAL: Public deserves details about $1B health project

The project is too big and too important in its potential size, location and services for the public to be in the dark about exactly what will be located on the site—especially as local officials prepare to start debating zoning changes that could make it possible.

MORRIS: Eastern Time plus DST is right course

Central Time advocates won't give up, but Indiana should stay in its zone.

DORSON: Sometimes the mentor becomes the mentee

In a world full of discord, I find hope and reassurance with my students. They are hard-working, committed and—maybe most important—thoughtful.

GIGERICH: It’s time to go big or go home on talent development

Several key objectives are required to prepare the state’s talent pool for high-demand jobs being created in Indiana.

FEIGENBAUM: Veteran lawmaker takes on fledging technology issue

Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, is leading the state's effort to create rules for autonomous vehicle use in Indiana.

WORKPLACE: Top leaders need to support LGBTQ employees

When leaders cannot see the problem and employees are not comfortable enough to say something, toxic workplace cultures develop.

URBAN DESIGN: It's our turn to reconsider necessity of urban freeways

Indiana should join other states that have found alternatives to these concrete barriers.

BOHANON & CUROTT: Liquor law changes are politics as usual

Why are unpopular regulations passed in the first place? And why are they so persistent? Three words: special interest politics.

‘Philly Special’ a recipe for Super Bowl—and investing—success

No situation illustrates both the benefit of analytics and curse of conventional wisdom than whether to “go for it” on fourth down in football.

Leave forest alone

LETTER: Judges have the power

If you’d read Indiana law, you’d know judges already have the power to increase sentences for any reason if they feel there are mitigating circumstances such as “hate.”

In Brief

Area home builders see big spike in demand in new year

It was the busiest January for builders since 2007, according to figures reported Monday by the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis.

The deal stems from a property spat between the two neighbors on North Meridian Street over the museum's $38.5 million sports park project.

USA Track & Field puts president on leave during investigation

Indianapolis-based USA Track & Field has placed Vin Lananna on temporary leave to avoid potential conflict-of-interest concerns over an investigation into the awarding of the 2021 world championships to Eugene, Oregon.

Franciscan nixes Carmel care center but prepares to open another in downtown Indy

Hospital systems have been opening urgent-care centers at a fast clip, using the small storefront locations to expand revenue, reduce demand on their emergency rooms, and get patients into their networks.

Forefront

WHETSTONE: Struggling consumers need more loan options

HB 1319 will ensure that hardworking Hoosiers continue to have credit options for managing financial difficulties.

LARA: Payday loan bill would drown Hoosiers in debt

When it comes down to dollars and cents, these payday dollars make absolutely no sense for struggling consumers.

SMITH: Why the sound of silence?

Where are the people who stood with me in my youth championing the causes of the greater good of fairness and equal rights for all?

BLACK: Women need to be present and recognize our power

Inaction and complacency are no longer options.

OESTERLE: Indy should brag that it’s a meritocracy

Your last name, your high school and your golf club membership just don't matter that much here.

McGRATH: Let’s call a truce and talk about school shootings

Let’s have the courage to ask: What about guns? What about mental health? What can we do for our youth who are hurting, lonely, abandoned?

HATHAWAY: Julian Center is about more than sheltering victims

I choose to focus on the survivors and ensure they have a path to long-term safety, stability and self-sufficiency.

McDONALD: Next Level Fund—avoiding the mistakes of other states

The overriding goal is to create a vibrant ecosystem of venture capital and entrepreneurship here at home.

DELANEY: It’s time to hold government to account

We rarely look back and report on the consequences and costs of programs we au-thorize or administer.

LANOSGA: Transparency, records are backbone of democracy

The Trump administration has shown little but contempt for the public's right to know.

Celestino-Horseman: Hillary Clinton and Yoko Ono did not have an affair

We can stop the Russian influence on our elections and our society simply by not blindly accepting whatever pleases us on the internet.

GARD: How to use $41 million to help Indiana’s air quality

The public meetings generated smaller attendance and fewer comments than anticipated.

SLASH: To be a black, female, semi-conservative millennial

If you're dealing with a millennial, it's likely you're interacting with a person who feels they were lied to their entire educational journey.

PING: President should look to Ivy Tech as example

Community college can be the right place to learn a trade, take a business class or a computer science class, or get started on the path to a four-year degree.

Close

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